Miss Latina US
Encyclopedia
Miss Latina US, formerly known as Miss Latina USA, is an American
beauty pageant exclusively for Latina
women in the United States. It is open to those born in Latin American or Iberian countries, or descended from them. Titles are available for all states, but typically those with larger Latin populations compete every year (such as Texas
, California
, Florida
, New Mexico
, etc.). Women may also represent their country of birth or those of their parents or grandparents. It was held for the first time as an official national preliminary to the Miss Latin America pageant in 1986. It is also a sister pageant to the Miss Teen US Latina
pageant. All three pageants are owned and operated by Miss Latin America Organization, similar to the way the Miss Universe Organization
operates the Miss Universe
, Miss USA
and Miss Teen USA
pageants.
The current titleholder is Elizabeth Robaina of Cuba
.
region. Only five women participated in the original pageant, held in 1981. In 1982, the number expanded. In 1983, it went international, but individual states were represented at that pageant. As a matter of fact, Cira Sanchez of Texas
was the second runner-up, while the representatives from Florida
, Arizona
and California
were top ten finalists (Nevada
also competed.) In 1984, ten state representatives participated at the Miss Latin America 1984 pageant, held in Miami Beach
, with Florida's representative, Yolanda Fernandez, placing as the first runner-up to Venezuela
's Mirla Ochoa. Florida again placed as first runner-up in 1985, and Arizona was third runner-up. In 1986, a separate pageant was founded, the Miss Latina USA contest. The winner went on to represent the United States at Miss Latin America. This has happened every year since. In 2001, as per agreement with the Miss Universe Organization
, who owns the rights to the Miss USA
title, the pageant changed its name from Miss Latina USA to Miss Latina US. Additionally, Miss Latin America became post-dated in 1999, changing the contest from Miss Latin America 1999 to Miss Latin America 2000. However, Miss Latina US had not, so Miss Latina USA 1999 went to Miss Latin America 2000. This was corrected in 2008, when the Miss Latina US Pageant held in September 2008 was post-dated and became Miss Latina US 2009, with the winner competing at Miss Latin America 2009. The international pageant was renamed Miss Latin America of the World in 2008 because of the rule changes allowing participation of Latin heritage delegates from around the globe that had begun in 2002.
, Texas
. Diana Franco of Utah was crowned Miss Latina US 2009 by outgoing titleholder Fatima Leonardo of Rhode Island. The runners-up were Johanna Sambucini (New York), Sasha Zacarias (Rhode Island), alerie Velazquez (Texas)www.myspace.com/valgal0076 ))
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
beauty pageant exclusively for Latina
Latina
Latina is the feminine form of the term Latino.Latina may also refer to:*Province of Latina, a province in Latium , Italy**Latina, Lazio, the capital of the province of Latina**Latina Nuclear Power Plant*Latina , a district of Madrid...
women in the United States. It is open to those born in Latin American or Iberian countries, or descended from them. Titles are available for all states, but typically those with larger Latin populations compete every year (such as Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, etc.). Women may also represent their country of birth or those of their parents or grandparents. It was held for the first time as an official national preliminary to the Miss Latin America pageant in 1986. It is also a sister pageant to the Miss Teen US Latina
Miss Teen US Latina
Miss Teen US Latina is an American beauty pageant for Latin American teenage girls living in the United States. It is a sister pageant to the Miss Latin America and Miss Latina US pageants. It was first established nationally in 2003...
pageant. All three pageants are owned and operated by Miss Latin America Organization, similar to the way the Miss Universe Organization
Miss Universe Organization
The Miss Universe Organization is the organization that currently owns and runs the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty contests. Based in New York, it is owned jointly by NBC Universal and Donald Trump. The current president is Paula Shugart...
operates the Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
, Miss USA
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
and Miss Teen USA
Miss Teen USA
Miss Teen USA is a beauty pageant run by the Miss Universe Organization for girls aged 14–19. The reigning titleholder is Danielle Doty of Texas....
pageants.
The current titleholder is Elizabeth Robaina of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
.
History
Originally, the Miss Latin America pageant was founded to provide scholarships for Latin American women living in the Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
region. Only five women participated in the original pageant, held in 1981. In 1982, the number expanded. In 1983, it went international, but individual states were represented at that pageant. As a matter of fact, Cira Sanchez of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
was the second runner-up, while the representatives from Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
were top ten finalists (Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
also competed.) In 1984, ten state representatives participated at the Miss Latin America 1984 pageant, held in Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
, with Florida's representative, Yolanda Fernandez, placing as the first runner-up to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
's Mirla Ochoa. Florida again placed as first runner-up in 1985, and Arizona was third runner-up. In 1986, a separate pageant was founded, the Miss Latina USA contest. The winner went on to represent the United States at Miss Latin America. This has happened every year since. In 2001, as per agreement with the Miss Universe Organization
Miss Universe Organization
The Miss Universe Organization is the organization that currently owns and runs the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA beauty contests. Based in New York, it is owned jointly by NBC Universal and Donald Trump. The current president is Paula Shugart...
, who owns the rights to the Miss USA
Miss USA
The Miss USA beauty contest has been held annually since 1952 to select the United States entrant in the Miss Universe pageant. The Miss Universe Organization operates both pageants, as well as Miss Teen USA...
title, the pageant changed its name from Miss Latina USA to Miss Latina US. Additionally, Miss Latin America became post-dated in 1999, changing the contest from Miss Latin America 1999 to Miss Latin America 2000. However, Miss Latina US had not, so Miss Latina USA 1999 went to Miss Latin America 2000. This was corrected in 2008, when the Miss Latina US Pageant held in September 2008 was post-dated and became Miss Latina US 2009, with the winner competing at Miss Latin America 2009. The international pageant was renamed Miss Latin America of the World in 2008 because of the rule changes allowing participation of Latin heritage delegates from around the globe that had begun in 2002.
Miss Latina US 2009
The Miss Latina US 2009 contest was held September 28, 2008 in San AntonioSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Diana Franco of Utah was crowned Miss Latina US 2009 by outgoing titleholder Fatima Leonardo of Rhode Island. The runners-up were Johanna Sambucini (New York), Sasha Zacarias (Rhode Island), alerie Velazquez (Texas)www.myspace.com/valgal0076 ))
Winners
| Year | Name | State | Placement at Miss Latin America |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Sandra Luz Cedillos (Mexico) |  Republic of Texas |
|
| 1987 | Sdenka Dobronic (Bolivia) |  Washington, D.C. |
|
| 1988 | NOT HELD | ||
| 1989 | Hany Valdes (Cuba) |  Florida |
|
| 1990 | Carola Garfias (Peru) |  Arizona |
|
| 1991 | Yvette Gonzalez (Cuba) |  New York |
|
| 1992 | Carla Morales (Guatemala) |  Rhode Island |
|
| 1993 | Dailin Garcia (Cuba) | Florida |
|
| 1994 | Joanne Morales-George (Cuba-Puerto Rico) | Florida |
|
| 1995 | NOT HELD | ||
| 1996 | Iris Almario (Puerto Rico) | New York |
|
| 1997 | NOT HELD | ||
| 1998 | Katherine Rodriguez (Cuba) | Florida |
|
| 1999 | Dilania Inoa (Dominican Rep.) | Rhode Island |
|
| 2000 | Katherine Gonzalez (Puerto Rico) | New York |
Semi-Finalist at Miss Latin America 2001 Miss Latin America 2001 Miss América Latina 2001 was the fifteenth international edition of the Miss América Latina contest, and the seventeenth overall. The final event was held on December 1, 2000 in Montelimar Beach, Nicaragua... . |
| 2001 | Karla Vargas (Nicaragua) |  California |
|
| 2002 | Elynor Martinez (Guatemala) |  Utah |
|
| 2003 | Lydia Acuña (Mexico) | Utah |
|
| 2004 | Graciela Stanley (Costa Rica) |  Kansas |
First Runner-Up at Miss Latin America 2005 Miss Latin America 2005 Miss América Latina 2005 was the nineteenth international edition of the Miss América Latina contest, and the twenty-first overall. The final event was held on November 26, 2004 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic... . |
| 2005 | Melissa Quesada (Puerto Rico) | New York |
Miss Latin America 2006 Miss Latin America 2006 Miss América Latina 2006 was the twentieth international edition of the Miss América Latina contest, and the twenty-second overall. The final event was held on June 28, 2006 in Riviera Maya, Mexico... |
| 2006 | Melissa Marin (Colombia) | Rhode Island |
|
| 2007 | Yalena Matos (Cuba) |  Oregon |
|
| 2008 | Fatima Leonardo (Dominican Rep.) | Rhode Island |
|
| 2009 | Diana Franca (Brazil) | Utah |
First Runner-Up |
| 2010 | Elizabeth Robaina (Cuba) |  Cuba |
Fourth Runner-Up |